TWO RESPECTED TRAINERS – STEPHEN “BREADMAN” EDWARDS AND JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR. – REVEAL HOW THEY WOULD TRAIN CRAWFORD AND SPENCE TO WIN THE UNDISPUTED WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
It’s the fight that fans have been screaming about for years. On Saturday, July 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, they’re finally going to get it when IBF/WBA/WBC titlist Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 knockouts) takes on WBO beltholder Terence “Bud” Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) for the undisputed welterweight championship.
Spence and Crawford, respectively ranked No. 4 and No. 2 pound-for-pound by The Ring, will be looking to make history as the first undisputed welterweight world champion in the four-belt era. As the pair are also ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the division, the vacant Ring belt will be on the line as well.
The 33-year-old Spence has done far more work at 147 pounds, having spent his 10½-year career at or near the weight, while the 35-year-old Crawford has only been there for his last seven fights and is a former junior welterweight and lightweight champion.
Spence likes to keep opponents at the end of a commanding right jab, back opponents to the ropes and throw either a left uppercut or a right hook. Rinse and repeat. Crawford measures opponents and uses great footwork and solid fundamentals while switching stances to confuse his victims, often starting slow and then cranking up the aggression.
Can he do that against Spence? Which fighter will impose their will? Can Spence keep up with Crawford? How will Spence deal with Crawford’s counterpunching?
The Ring sought out the keen insight of two world-renowned trainers – Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, who trains former junior middleweight titlist Julian “J-Rock” Williams, and Jose Benavidez Sr., who guides sons Jose Jr., who fought Crawford in October 2018, and David, The Ring’s No. 1-rated super middleweight who in his last fight beat Caleb Plant (who was trained by Edwards).
Here are the battle plans they concocted for each fighter:
